TRACE ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY AND DEPOSITIONAL CONDITIONS OF ORGANIC MATTER RICH ROCKS FROM SOUTHWEST OF DENİZLİ (SW-TURKEY)

The determination of the trace element and total organic carbon (TOC, %) content of organic matter rich rocks from Acıpayam (Denizli/SW Turkey) was carried out with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and TOC/Rock-Eval pyrolysis method,... [ view full abstract ]

The determination of the trace element and total organic carbon (TOC, %) content of organic matter rich rocks from Acıpayam (Denizli/SW Turkey) was carried out with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and TOC/Rock-Eval pyrolysis method, respectively. The organic geochemical analysis results of samples suggest that these rocks have excellent source rock quantity according to total organic carbon (TOC, %) contents (range from 8.82 to 43.80 wt. %). According to the X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) analysis, organic matter rich rock samples are consisting predominantly of quartz, clay minerals (mostly illite and lesser amount of smecktite, chlorite and kaolinite), feldspar, opaque minerals (pyrite and ilmenite) and, as accessory minerals calcite, gypsum and mica. In order to describe oxidation conditions of these rocks were calculated certain trace element ratios. Ni/Co (range from 11.91 to 26.19), V/Cr (range from 0.05 to 0.31), V/(V+Ni) (range from 0.02 to 0.14) and U/Th ratios (range from 0.19 to 0.43), contents for the studied samples pointing to oxic to anoxic conditions. CIA, PIA and CIW values (81 %, 84 %, and 85%, respectively) imply intense weathering of the source rock. Plots of samples on Al2O3 wt. % versus TiO2 wt. % diagram indicate that the samples plot between the granite and basalt field, constitute the source rocks in the provenance. Certain major elements indicating that the organic matter rich rocks were deposited under humid climatic conditions.

Key Words: Denizli, Organic matter rich rocks, Trace element, Provenance, Paleo weathering, Redox condition.

Acknowledgement: This study was financially supported by the Turkish Scientific Research Council (TUBITAK project no: 114Y668).